This course introduces foundational Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), including the alphabet, sounds, and writing system. Students build basic skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking through a communicative approach, learning grammar, vocabulary, sentence formation, and everyday interactions while developing pronunciation, literacy, and oral communication.
Athena Title
Elementary Arabic I
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will be able to recognize and produce the Arabic alphabet in its various forms.
Students will be able to read and write simple words and sentences in Arabic script.
Students will be able to demonstrate basic pronunciation of Arabic sounds.
Students will be able to use basic sentence structures in nominal and verbal sentences.
Students will be able to identify and use gender, number, and simple agreement patterns.
Students will be able to conjugate and use common verbs in the present tense.
Students will be able to ask and answer simple questions about personal information and daily life.
Students will be able to understand and respond to basic spoken Arabic in familiar contexts.
Students will be able to use high-frequency vocabulary related to family, daily routine, and common activities.
Students will be able to engage in short, guided conversations using Modern Standard Arabic.
Topical Outline
- Arabic alphabet and writing system
- Sound system and pronunciation
- Basic sentence structure
- Present tense verb conjugation
- Gender and number (singular, dual, plural)
- Noun-adjective agreement
- Personal pronouns and basic possessive structures
- Demonstratives and simple question formation
- Negation (basic forms)
- Numbers 1-10 and basic time expressions
- Core vocabulary (family, daily routine, university life)
- Listening and speaking practice through guided dialogues
